How do I detox from pain meds ?

[Mommythatneedshelp]

Someone , anyone ... I want to get off of the pain meds . I take them for daily headaches and migraines . The headaches are unbearable and cant function with them , the meds help ALOT! But I ended up taking to many and going through my meds to fast  . So I want off ! And I dont know how to do it . How do I detox myself ?

I am posting this here , I had it in the wrong section . Thanks for letting me know !!

I am now on Vic 10 /325 , was on Perc 10s .
Was taking 3-4 at a time .I am today trying to just take one as I feel withdrawl coming on , not sure it will work cause I already am getting leg pain and want to take another one . Please help me !

[joann1975]

Welcome to the forum (again ;) ) !! How many times a day do you take 3-4? You have the option of going cold turkey or tapering....slowly reducing your intake to minimize your wds. I tapered so I know more about it than cold turkey....someone will come along and give you more cold turkey info. However, they say it is like a bad flu for 5-7 days and you can use the flu as your smokescreen if nobody knows of your addiction.

If you will look to the right of your screen at the top there is a section called Health Pages click on those....read about the amino protocols....very helpful and if you are going cold turkey the Thomas Recipe is very helpful as well.

Please let any of us know if you have any questions! We are here to help and I am glad you are getting your life back!
JoAnn

[Mommythatneedshelp]

I am at about 8-10 pills a day

[joann1975]

Do you have a plan...like taper or cold turkey?

[liscamdave]

Tapering can be done, if you are truly serious about quitting. Most addicts try to taper and with the everyday business of life, tend to not be able to do it because they can't deal with the withdraws. In my experience, (4year oxy contin addict) with many attmepts to quit using every sort of detox out there, meds, taper, c/turkey, I have found that a taper can be long and harder then even cold turkey. WIth a proper taper, that is dr.supervised, the w.d process can be long, but most likely more comfortable then doing it yourself. He will know what to tell you to take in order to start dropping your dependancy all while maintainign a comfortble w.d. It may not be all that great, but at least you will be able to get through the day. If you do it yourself, you may experience w.d almost every day which will just prolong the process and you will suffer everyday. If you go c/t, the w.d process will be over much quicker as opposed to prolonging it for weeks. Its all up to you, if you are serious about quitting there are meds your dr.can prescribe to help you get off for good. Also, look in to getting a non-narcotic pain med for your headaches. Good luck.

Lisa

[Mommythatneedshelp]

If non narcotic meds worked for my headaches I would be on them LOL
I have tried every freaken headaches/migraine med possible . He even had me on a prevenative medication for them. NOTHING works other then the pain meds . Trust me if they worked I would be on them and not be in this situation! I live a normal life with my kids , I dont get High from the meds . I take my kids to dance , soccer , gymnastics , karate , and so on . Help with homework . Im a single mom and my 5 year old is autistic . I live a very normal life . I just think its time to get off of them ! I  did go from Perocet 10 mgs down to Vic 10 in the last month . But had to take so many to get my body use to a lower narc . But I think I am able to just take a few a day . with the massive headaches in between . Thats the hardest part . I cant function with my headaches . Im nervous about them to , I have no insurance .  

Joanne which way is best ?

[joann1975]

Well, it's hard to say what is best....we are all different. I could not be in a state of wd with my toddler at home.... so it just depends on your situation....

I sent you a PM... if you click on your inbox....

JoAnn

[dominosarah]

I think i would get ahold of your doctor and ask him about this.  I went c/t off 18 vikes a day and i was sick for about a week and a half.  I dont have small kids at home tho as mine are grown.  I see Joann is sending you a pm.  She will be able to help you.  good luck and keep us posted.              sara

[avisg]

I would get hold of the doctor and have him help you taper plus narcotics don't work for migraines so he needs to look into why you are having so many and what kind of headaches they are .We have the community leaders from the pain management forum over here for the next two days to help with non narcotic pain options .I would ask them if they know of anything that might help you .

[NautyOne]

I agree with avisg, I have periodic migraines and not once did a Vicodin ever get rid of it no matter how many I took.  The only thing that works for me is the OTC Excedrin for migraines......and, only if caught early, otherwise I am sc rewed......

Funny, back in the days.....when at the Doctors office.  She was giving me a script for Vicodin and in the same breath told me to be careful with the Excedrine because it could be addicting.......just shows you how taboo pain meds are.......too funny.

Sorry bout your headaches.......Maybe you should tell the doctor the Vic's are not working and what other alternatives are there......hopefully your doc isn't like mine and when I said that he wanted to put me on Morphine instead.......Geez.'

Tapering is a btch as you can already see.  Cold turkey with children.......NO WAY, and a special needs child......I can see it if you are Wonder Woman.....Maybe suboxone???.....I wish I had more and better advice.  Please keep posting.

Nauty.............

[Lona11]

well, I know a lot of people aren't going to agree with me on this but Tramadol (Ultram) will relieve the withdrawal symptoms.  But the problem is, when you try and get off the Tramadol, you will have the withdrawal problem again.  The advantage of taking the Tramadol is it is not listed as a narcotic so it is easier to get from the doctor and I think it is easier to taper off and withdrawal from than Vicodan or Percocet.   I have gotten Ultram as samples or my doctor writes 5 refills on my prescription.  You will not have the withdrawal symptoms so it is easier to go on with your life, especially if you are trying to get off the pain meds.  That is what I am trying to do right now, I have switched over to strictly Ultram and tapering off.  You don't have the craving for Ultram like you do Vics or Percs so I think that is a big help.  What I meant about people not agreeing with me on this is I have seen on this forum about people having side affects, seizures and being even more addicted taking Ultram but I have taken them on and off for 10 years without any side affects at all so it would be strictly your choice if you want to try it.  Personally, I have never known anyone to have these side effects.  It is a pain medication too so it may help your headaches and your doctor may prescribe it for you.  Twice before, I totally got off the pain meds and I tried it cold turkey and I hope I never have to do that again.  The second time I did the tapering with the Ultram.  I think the main problem with almost everyone on these meds is what to do about our pain?  It is all great to kick the pain pill addiction but when you do and you are still in pain and nothing helps, that is when you slide back into getting more pills.  It is a vicious circle.  I'm just hoping this time maybe I can control it better with my massage chair, muscle relaxers (which I don't really like so I've never had any kind of addiction with them) and trying different things.  But for you right now, suffering, see if your doctor will prescribe Ultram so you can try it and see if it helps you.  JMO

[EmilyPost]

As a person who just spent the night in excruciating pain from cold turkey no tramadol, I would say stay the Heck away from tramadol!!!

I'd rather cold turkey vidocin or percosets than tramadol.

Using tramadol to get off opiates is putting a worse drug in the place of what you are already taking. Out of he frying pan into the fire in my opinion. Sythetic opiate and an antidepressant with all your Dcos saying oh how safe it is!? No! Sweden in May reclassified Tramadol as a dangerous narcotic. Go Sweden!

Plus, in the beginning Ultram (taramdol) gave me wicked headaches.

I would rather eat rat poison than take another tramadol.

Just my opinon, having spent last night awake after my first full 11 hour day back at work with two ice packs wrapped around my head from Tramadol withdrawal. Until I found some sublingual B-12 tablets I was feeling like I might have actually turned into a spider.

I hate Tramadol *kicks Tramadol* *kicks it again* See? I'm getting stronger.

Have you tried Chiro and Accupuncture Mommy? For de HA's? I mean you have gone the alternative medicine way? Body work? Excellent non headache diet?

I hope it gets better for you and you can get off. If you taper and then find someone to help you with the kids the most serious withdrawal at home (with no insurance) will last 3-4 day depending on how long and how many you were taking. It will be bad, but if you keep going, it will aslo be bad.

And I know what it is like to have no insurance and be where you are. And hey ... I'm on Day 13 and I can kinda function. And I even feel like my old self half the time!

Hugs!
Emly

[catchaos]

Don't take tramadol!!!!! I am in the same position as you, with the withdrawal and having children, and that's what I am withdrawing from! I used to take narcotics for my back, yrs ago and it was easier to stop taking than this garbage. I haven't taken tramadol in a week and it isn't getting any easier. I was told it was non adictive and yet here I am. Stay away from it!

[EmilyPost]

To Catchaos;

Oh yes, I know! Would rather cold turkey off anything else. Anything else. Anything. It got so much better for me at day 10 and yesterday I was able to work an 11 hour shift. I highy reccommend the B-12 sublinguals. They are realllllly helping me.

Tramadol with kick yer butt and take yer name and hold your head underwater, but please keep up the no tramadol fight. It is so worth it. I promise you!  Your personality and spark will come back AND you won't have as much pain. I bet the tramadol was making your pain worse, as it was with mine. I despise and hate tramadol with the red hot firey passion of ... well ... you know the rest ... Pace yourself. When it gets bad, rest and breathe thru it. Resisting the pain makes it worse. Hope that helps a bit.

:)
(((((Catchaos))))

Emily

[dominosarah]

I mean no disrespect here but coming off 18 vicoprofen a day was no walk in the park.  i am over 2 months clean and still having a few issues.               sara

[Mommythatneedshelp]

No way on tramadol! I take another medication and the 2 do NOT mix!

[Mommythatneedshelp]

Vic or perc may not work for u guys on ur migrains for me they do take the edge off of them to where im not puking and can function again .

[wannabefree330]

I used to tell myself I had to have opiates for migraines.  I'm speaking for myself, but when I did get sober and didn't take them anymore, I had maybe 1 migraine in 1 1/2 years.  Opiates cause a rebound effect on migraines and while it may be required as a last ditch effort, they should not be used to control them.  If you are having a constant headache anyway, why take them-it doesn't make them better.  But i bet they get reeeaalll bad when your pills start to wear off eh?  thats the rebound I'm talking about.  If you want off the pills, your going to have to find something else.  We know from experience that it just gets worse over time.  eventually you will have such a tolerance, no amount of medication will help.  Get a second opinion and try other options.  You have to have an open mind in order to get away from these pills my friend.  I know I swore that the vics and percs helped my headaches, in reality, I just wanted to escape from life and used it as an excuse--then I was addicted and didn't know where to turn.  Talk to your doctor again, or find a new one.  It may be you end up living in pain, tolerable pain, but you will be living and not just getting to the next pill.

[wannabefree330]

I know you say you live a very NORMAL life, but sounds chaotic to me.  I'm not trying to be rude here, but do you think you take them so you can live this busy life and get through the day-emotional wise?  It may be you have some underlying depression going on, and stress is a big trigger for headaches.  Just a thought?

[Lona11]

I didn't mean to start an uproar about the Tramadol and I didn't know about the mix of your medications.  You asked for help, any help or ideas.  I gave you one person's experience.  Personally I found the withdrawal from Percocets much worse than withdrawing from Ultram.  That could just be my system.  Everyone is different.  As we all know, withdrawing from any of this stuff is murder so I am open and grateful to everyone's experiences and ideas on this forum.  I am also glad the people on here told us about their bad experiences with tramadol, that does make me try and wean even faster.and get off both pain meds. I had no idea anyone had any problems with tramadol until I saw this forum.  I have never had a doctor, druggist or friend mention anything at all about problems with Tramadol but there must be something to it according to this forum.  I just thought it was an easier way to detox.  This forum is so helpful I think.   I just hope when I am totally off the meds, my pain isn't too bad.  It is much easier to stay off pain meds if you're out of pain!  If you are still experiencing bad symptoms, lots of .hot baths and sleep (if you can) makes it easier.  good luck to you mommy

[avisg]

As Emily and Cat said Tramadol is very addictive the withdrawal is awful. Tramadol is not a good choice for wd !!!!!

Mommy I am gald you are not thinking about taking it .

[Lona11]

what can the doctor prescribe except suboxone (I think that is it) to help withdrawal?  are there other meds?  thanks

[avisg]

colonadine<---- spelling  really  helps with WD that is an option depending on health history and other meds

[extrmeski]

Wow there are alot of opinions on here most of them conflict which tell me that detox is a personal issue and you have to find what works for you.  Honestly as I read the posts here there is no magic "pill" to get off of these drugs that our doctors are so happy to get us hooked on.  I've read about suboxone, buphenirine (sp), clondopin etc..  Each one has benefits and downsides to them.
I guess it's all up to you, personally I'd rather just cold turkey it.  The tapering off seems to me just to prolong the bad feelings that are inevitable anyway.  It's like getting in a cold pool, you can jump in and take the shock all at once or ease in and suffer the prolonged agony of the cold water.
Just be sure that you do not have access to anything if you are going to cold turkey it.  It's gets so bad that if you did have anything you would take it..

[Lona11]

I love your comparison to cold turkey as just jumping in the pool.  You are probably so right as I am a "weaner" and I am also the type that slowly works my way into the cold pool and torture myself! lol  And you are absolutely right about not having anything in the house when you go cold turkey or have no one to "borrow" one from.  I have read many articles and know for a fact that law abiding citizens that have never done anything illegal in their lives will buy a pill if they are in withdrawal and it is available.  That just shows how uncomfortable withdrawal is.  I haven't seen anyone mention it on here about my main irritation on withdrawal.  My stomach is jittery on the inside, like my bladder feels like it keeps jumping and I have to urinate all the time. does anyone else have this?  and what do you do for it, if anything?